May 22, 2015
The Pharmacy Practitioner Development Committee (PPDC)  May 2015 Report

Competency standards review

The PPDC was pleased to receive and accept the final report from the Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association (AHHA) on work conducted to inform the review of the National competency standards framework for pharmacists in Australia. The report presents findings of the background research, literature review and stakeholder consultation which constituted the first stage of the review.

The findings included that the current framework is regarded to be comprehensive and is used for a full range of purposes. Fundamental change is not required but revisions are needed for contemporary practice and emerging and future pharmacist roles to be reflected, including by cross-referencing to the domains of the Advanced Pharmacy Practice Framework (APPF). This will help articulate the continuum of development of the range of competencies in the APPF from undergraduate years through life-long learning. An even greater emphasis on patient-centred care and enhancing flexibility of the framework were also suggested.

The PPDC expresses its appreciation to all the pharmacists, pharmacy organisations and non-pharmacy health organisations and individuals who took the time to participate in the national consultation. The report is available at: http://advancedpharmacypractice.com.au/resources/

On behalf of its Member organisations, the PPDC is delighted to announce the appointment of Ms Kerry Deans as a consultant to conduct the next stage of the competency standards review. Ms Deans has considerable expertise in this area and has had a pivotal role in several competency standards-related projects previously for the pharmacy profession.

The next stage of the review will involve detailed revision of the content of the competency standards. This will be informed by feedback received through the AHHA report, the expert advice of PPDC Member organisations and future consultations with the profession and other stakeholders.

Advanced pharmacy practice

The PPDC received an update on the Australian Pharmacy Council credentialing of advanced practice pharmacists pilot program. The Committee congratulates the first cohort of pharmacists currently undergoing practice portfolio evaluation. The PPDC looks forward to the outcomes of the pilot and any feedback received on the practical application of the APPF.

Advanced practice and extended practice

A paper entitled Understanding advanced and extended professional practice has been published in the April 2015 issue of Australian Pharmacist, accompanied by a feature article. The paper presents the work undertaken to clarify the use of the terms advanced practice and extended practice in describing aspects of professional practice. The work was relevant in the course of development of the APPF and ongoing work on a recognition model for advanced practice pharmacists. The paper is available at: http://advancedpharmacypractice.com.au/resources/

Shane Jackson, Chair PPDC, 22 May 2015

PPDC Secretariat | PO BOX 42 DEAKIN WEST ACT 2600 | ppdc@psa.org.au The Pharmacy Practitioner Development Committee is a profession-wide collaborative forum established to focus on the development of pharmacist practitioners through consideration of competencies and scopes of practice.

 

May 22, 2015
PSA and Aspen Pharmacare Australia innovation grants nominations closing soon 

Applications for the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia and Aspen Pharmacare Australia’s Innovation Grants, recognising and celebrating innovation in pharmacy through sustainable business practices, close in two weeks.

The new grants seek to identify and pursue innovative ways to improve customer satisfaction and engagement, business profitability and sales growth in all areas of pharmacy practice.

The closing date for grants applications to be lodged is close of business on 1 June 2015

The awards are targeted at pharmacists implementing practice change to:

• Increase pharmacist – customer engagement
• Target customers with health promotions and professional services
• Increase collaboration with other health professionals
• Increase health related (S2 and S3) medicine sales
  
• Maintain and grow dispensary profitability through sustainable business practices

National President of the PSA, Grant Kardachi, said the awards sought examples of innovation in increasing consumer health outcomes and pharmacy business through the use of S2 and S3 products, and in growing the dispensary through innovative and sustainable business practices

“Aspen Pharmacare Australia and PSA share a common belief that the landscape of Australian retail pharmacy is continuing to change and in the highly competitive retail pharmacy market businesses can no longer run as they did in the past, relying on dispensing alone,” Mr Kardachi said.

Cathie Hilton, Deputy Head of Prescription Business at Aspen Pharmacare Australia urged pharmacists to get their grants’ applications lodged.

“The pharmacy environment is rapidly evolving and adapting by implementing innovative changes and approaches throughout their dispensary, OTC and front of shop is a way to maximse opportunities in the future,” she said.

“This project between Aspen Pharmacare Australia and PSA challenges the profession to identify and seek new and innovative ways in which pharmacy can achieve customer satisfaction, business profitability and growth in all areas of the pharmacy including dispensary, OTC, front of shop.”

The six recipients of the Innovation Grants will each receive $2000 towards travel, accommodation and registration to attend the PSA15 Conference to showcase their innovation in a poster session.

Nominations for the Aspen Pharmacare Australia and PSA Innovation Grants can be lodged at www.psa.org.au/awards/innovation

May 22, 2015
Canberra pharmacy student Ashlei Mornement named ACT Pharmacy Student of the Year

University of Canberra pharmacy student Ms Ashlei Mornement has been named as the ACT Pharmacy Student of the Year.

Ms Mornement, a Master of Pharmacy student (final year), will now go on to compete against Pharmacy Student of the Year winners from all other States and Territories vying for the national title at PSA15.

The judges for the competition were Associate Professor Greg Kyle, Dr Lynn Cheong and Associate Professor Mark Naunton.

Assoc Prof Kyle said the three finalists – Ms Mornement, Kayla Lee and Therese Pham – were very close and it was a borderline decision.

Ms Mornement had been a standout among the finalists because of her ability to communicate the clinical problem to the patient.

“She was very confident and impressed the judges with her patient focus and ability,” Assoc. Prof Kyle said.

Head of Pharmacy at the University of Canberra, Assoc Prof Mark Naunton said Ms Mornement had a very caring nature and appeared to have significant empathy for the patient.

“The competitors displayed very good clinical acumen skills, with each of them solving the clinical scenario quickly with effective communication to the patient,” Assoc Prof Naunton said after the competition.

“We wish Ashlei all the best in the national competition.”

Ms Mornement will now go on to compete against winners from all other States and Territories vying for the national title at PSA15.

Under the theme of ‘Leading Pharmacy Innovation’, PSA15 is being held at Sofitel Sydney Wentworth from 31 July to 2 August 2015. 

Further details and registration are available at http://www.psa.org.au/psa15

May 20, 2015
Shanae Hancey of Curtin University named WA Pharmacy Student of the Year

Curtin University pharmacy student Shanae Hancey has been named as the West Australian Pharmacy Student of the Year.

The announcement was made during the recent WA Annual Seminar.

Ms Hancey, a Master of Pharmacy student, will now go on to compete against winners from all other States and Territories vying for the national title at PSA15.

The judges for the competition were Jonathan Soggee, Early Career Pharmacist WA Chair; Bridgett McKay, the 2015 WA Pharmacist of the Year; and Mark Lock, WA PSA Branch Committee member.

Mr Soggee said Ms Hancey had been a standout among the finalists for her communication skills and her clinical knowledge.

“She was very confident and impressed the judges with her deep-understanding and ability,” Mr Soggee said.

Ms McKay said the standard of competitors was exceptionally high and reflected the strong learning environment for pharmacy students in Western Australia.

“The competitors displayed very good communications skills and all were very adept at engaging with the ‘customer’ and communicating with them. They were all a credit to their universities,” she said.

Mr Lock said he was very impressed by the calibre of students who presented during the competition and by their ability to adapt to their customers’ needs.

“They really were very strong communicators and were able to incorporate  this skill with a very thorough clinical knowledge to produce the best and most appropriate advice for the scenario.”

The PSOTY competition is proud to have as industry partners API and Alphapharm. 

The other finalists were:

• Curtin University Bachelor of Pharmacy Course: Melissa Hattingh
• UWA Master of Pharmacy Course: Amy Swerlowycz.

The national finals of the PSOTY competition will be conducted at PSA15 being held at Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, 31 July – 2 August 2015.  Further details and registration are available at http://www.psa.org.au/psa15

May 19, 2015
UNE’s Brighid Carey is NSW Pharmacy Student of the Year

University of New England pharmacy student Brighid Carey has been named the NSW Pharmacy Student of the Year and will now go on to compete against winners from all States and Territories vying for the national title at PSA15.

Ms Carey was presented the award by Vice-President of the NSW Branch of PSA, John Chapman, at the weekend.

Mr Chapman said the competition once again had been of an exceptionally high standard, and the standard rose every year.

“As one of the judges I was very impressed by the extremely high calibre of students who presented during the competition,” Mr Chapman said.

“The competitors were skilled and knowledgeable and displayed an enthusiasm and passion for their profession which was very heartening and encouraging.”

The PSOTY competition is proud to have as industry partners API and Alphapharm. Andrew Rewell from API and Charbel Azzi from Alphapharm joined Mr Chapman and Domenica Baskin (NSW PSA Continuing Professional Development Manager) on the judging panel.

Mr Azzi said each and every finalist was a credit to the profession.

“This competition showed very clearly that the future of pharmacy is in very capable and committed hands,” he said.

Mr Rewell said it was encouraging to see how knowledgeable and skilled the young students were.

“I was very impressed by their  advanced knowledge levels and how they engaged with the consumer to ask all the right questions when counselling them,” he said.

The other finalists were:

• Sami Issac Sami from the University of Sydney
• Luke Harb from the University of Technology, Sydney
• Jessica O’Donnell from the University of Newcastle
• Lucy Kennedy from Charles Sturt University

The national finals of the PSOTY competition will be conducted at PSA15 being held at Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, 31 July – 2 August 2015.  Further details and registration are available at http://www.psa.org.au/psa15